Amitie/Pique - Split 5" Lathe (Dingleberry Records/Illuminate My Heart Records/Larry Records)

Labels: Dingleberry Records/Illuminate My Heart Records/Larry Records

Formats: 5" Lathe/Digital

Release Date: 05 Nov 2019

Tracklist:

1. Amitie - Today's Agenda Is...

2. Pique - Only Death Is Real

I had a lot of fun writing last night's review. In case you didn't know, I'm dedicating this week to the bands that featured on the four-way split LP that I wrote about yesterday and it just so happens that this little split includes two of them. Towards the end of 2019, Amitie and Pique recorded one song each, before committing them to a very limited lathe cut 5" record. If you own any 5" vinyl releases, you'll know that they tend be very short and it's no different with this one. Don't worry though because you'll still have plenty of time to stare at that bewilderingly awesome artwork up there.

Two tracks not even passing the two-minute mark when played one after the other. I’m expecting something insane and straight away Amitie doesn’t disappoint with ‘Today’s Agenda Is…’. Emoviolence but with clear and obvious melody, that goes by all too quickly. The feedback/looping riffs at the beginning give it away really and the percussion/vocals don’t give any quarters either.

Pique’s ‘Only Death Is Real” is less violent and more cinematic. It’s tempo slower and while it too is short in length, the image it creates in your mind is strangely one of peace and fragility. The vocals are just as emotive here but the instrumentation seems more sensitive. It almost feels like there are two sides to this split and by that I don’t mean the obvious. It seems there’s a chaotic side and a calm side, with Pique being the latter. 

Both bands here didn’t have a great deal to play with in terms of songs lengths yet they’ve made it work to their advantage. Exhilarating and heartfelt in equal measure. I’m not usually a fan of those discography comps that bands seem to do as stop gaps between proper releases, but if both Amitie and Pique were to do their own, I’d be down. 

You can stream the full split below, where you can also purchase it digitally:-

Amitie - https://www.facebook.com/amitiemo/

Pique - https://www.facebook.com/piquenyc/

The physical release is almost sold out but one copy is still available from Dingleberry Records via their Discogs store - https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/.

Dingleberry Records - https://www.facebook.com/Dingleberry-records-and-distribution

Illuminate My Heart Records - https://www.facebook.com/illuminatemyheartmydarling/

Larry Records - https://www.facebook.com/larryscrammo/

Lytic/Amitie/Chivala/Pique - 4-Way Split (Moment Of Collapse Records/Shove Records/Zegema Beach Records/Larry Records)

Labels: Moment Of Collapse Records/Shove Records/Zegema Beach Records/Larry Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 04 Oct 2019

Tracklist:

1. Lytic - Insensible Losses

2. Lytic - Bless Your Tourist Heart

3. Amitie - The First 21 Years

4. Amitie - Perpetual Motion

5. Amitie - Overtoun Mink

6. Chivala - Materia E Memoria

7. Chivala - Retaggio

8. Pique - I

9. Pique - II

10. Pique - III

11. Pique - IV

12. Pique - V

I hinted a couple of weeks ago that my next set of reviews would be about four bands, who broadsided my consciousness with a 4-way split release recently. Those in question were US bands Lytic, Amitie, Pique and Italian band Chivala. This was that split. It was released towards the end of last year on vinyl via Moment Of Collapse Records, Shove Records and Zegema Beach Records, as well on tape via Larry Records. All fours bands form part of the ever growing post-hardcore/emo/screamo family that spans the entire globe. I must add at this point that some digital outlets state that this release contains eleven songs, while others state twelve songs. I'm reviewing all twelve songs, because I'd rather not miss one. 

First up it’s Lytic, who contribute two songs. Split opener ‘Insensible Losses’ is a chaotic and violent, but melodic piece of screamo that shows their collective experience (ex-Off Minor and Saetia, amongst others). Noisy percussion, emotive screams and guitar work that flits between dissonant and vulnerable. ‘Bless Your Tourist Heart’ is much more emo (sorry!) in delivery to begin with, before exploding into a stop/start collage of screamo/emoviolence. All the while, keeping you on the edge of your seat with musical twists and turns.

Amitie follow with three songs. The riffs and melody at the beginning of ‘The First 21 Years’ sound familiar, but I can’t remember why (or whom it sounds like) off the top of my head. The vocals and music that follows is super good emo/screamo that’s got an air of nostalgia about it. ‘Perpetual Motion’ is as atmospheric and emotive as Amitie’s opener. It’s a similar tempo as well, albeit slightly more on the moody side. It’s glorious though. Their final song here, ‘Overtoun Mink’ comes across like a mix of At The Drive-In and Incubus (perhaps). It’s not what you might expect but it shows that Amitie’s song-writing and delivery has plenty of maturity and thoughtfulness within it.

As with Amitie, this split was my introduction to Italian band Chivala and they bring two songs to  the party here. ‘Materia E Memoria’ has an unmistakable European flair and rawness to it. The lyrics in their native-tongue are perfect and sit them next to compatriots Ojne in terms of quality. Their sound is so clear on ‘Retaggio’, which strips away all of the chaos and dissonance in favour of instrumental majesty that builds but never overspills.

Closing out this split is Pique with five numerically named additions. ‘I’ is solid emoviolence/ambient post-hardcore at it’s best. It doesn’t last long, but then none of their songs do here. ‘II’ is menacing and sometimes sinister, especially thanks to the spoken-word sample within it. In fact, Pique takes an old-school approach slightly akin to From Autumn To Ashes when is comes to sample usage, which is absolutely fine. ‘III’ feels self-deprecating but sets the mood brilliantly without being over-complicated. On ‘IV’, Pique returns to the quick-fire post-hardcore violence once again, which leads into split closer ‘V’. It’s a fitting finale.

I’ve said it before but there split releases are absolute gems. All four bands here fit alongside each other effortlessly and yet they each have something unique to offer. If you haven’t done so already, pick this up and wear out the needle of your turntable, because you won’t be able to stop playing it.

You can stream the split below:-

Lytic - https://www.facebook.com/lyticnyc/

Amitie - https://www.facebook.com/amitiemo/

Chivala - https://www.facebook.com/chivalaband/

Pique - https://www.facebook.com/piquenyc/

You can buy the split on both vinyl and digitally from the labels below:-

Moment Of Collapse Records - https://kollektif.eu/screamoemo/ / https://www.facebook.com/momentofcollapse/

Shove Records - https://www.facebook.com/SHOVE-records

Zegema Beach Records - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases / 

http://zegemabeachrecords.storenvy.com / https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords/

Larry Records - https://larry187.bandcamp.com/music / https://www.facebook.com/larryscrammo/